Leicestershire's elite performance director Andrew McDonald will leave the club at the end of the season with Pierre de Bruyn to take over as head coach.
McDonald has decided to leave a club he has helped transform in the past two seasons to take over as coach of Victoria, who have won the past two Sheffield Shield titles in his native Australia.
The 35-year-old also cited family reasons for his move home, where he will also lead Big Bash League franchise the Melbourne Renegades.
"It has been an extremely difficult decision to leave Leicestershire County Cricket Club but I have to put my family first and we are now going to settle back home in Australia," McDonald said in a statement.
"I'd like to thank the club for this fantastic opportunity, I'll always be grateful for having the chance to both play and coach at the Fischer County Ground, and will continue to follow the club's fortunes from afar."
The former Australia all-rounder joined Leicester as head coach in 2015 after the club finished the two previous season at the foot of the Specsavers County Championship Division Two table without a win in either season.
This season he has led a promotion push, and Leicestershire chief executive Wasim Khan said: "This decision has not been easy for Andrew and we are naturally disappointed to lose a person and coach of his calibre. We fully understand and respect the reasons for his decision."
De Bruyn, 39, will take over as head coach following McDonald's departure in October, after working under the Australian as Second XI and assistant skill coach.
"Pierre has made a huge impression since joining the club and has done a fantastic job this season," Khan said.
"Pierre has stepped up to carry out a number of different roles and we feel that it is now the right time for him to take on this exciting new role."
Source: PA
